The Carbon Dinos went Rabbit hunting on Friday night and they did it in the dark. No they didn’t illegally spot light hunt; they just did it while it was dark and outside and by the time they were done it was dark inside the Dinogym too because the Carbon boys had shot the lights out.
Making up for a disappointing loss to the Rabbits earlier in the season in Millard County, the team took out their frustrations on the kids from Delta and whipped them 79-54.
It was a truly interesting game, with a noisy crowd and people having to use a different entrance to get in because the old gym next door was occupied with a varsity wrestling meet at the same time. People kept going from one to the other and after the basketball game wrapped up many fans walked into the other gym and watched the Dino wrestlers beat up on Union.
In some ways there was a wrestling match going on in the Dinogym as well. The Carbon boys are trying to stay alive in the Region 8 race for a spot at the state tournament and went a long ways towards doing that by beating Delta. They are now tied for second in the Region with Emery and Delta, while third ranked in the state Lehi leads the league with an undefeated record.
Carbon jumped all over the Rabbits right from the beginning of the game and never let up. They played good defense and held onto the ball very well. At the end of the first they were ahead 17-12, a good sign. Carbon has won few games this season when they didn’t lead at the end of the first period.
The second quarter was similar as the Dinos out scored Delta 18-14. Matt Jewkes moves to the basket kept the Rabbits very honest on their defense and they had to pay the price as 10 Carbon players scored in the game.
But it was the third quarter where the Dinos really ran down their prey. They destroyed the Rabbits at that point turning their offense into a joke and almost pouring the ball through the basket at will. By the end of the quarter they led 59-37 and never looked back.
The Rabbits may as well have packed their bags, but hope springs eternal. However, the hope got lost and the spring dried up; they didn’t gain a thing in the fourth period, in fact even with a good effort they still lost ground.
In the end it was the balance that Carbon showed that did Delta in. Matt Jewkes had an outstanding game in many ways, demonstrated by his 22 points and his fine moves to the basket.
One of the best things about the game was the way the Dinos shot their three point shots. All together the team made 13 threes, possibly a school record. Jewkes had four, Jeff Anderson had three, Jake Wood and Matt Hough each had two a piece and Tyson Hackwell and Kyle Willson each had one. Delta only had three from beyond the arc.
Now Carbon must travel to Emery County on Wednesday night and beat the Spartan’s to solidify their position. They lost at home to the Spartans a month ago, but things have changed. Carbon is a better team now, particularly with their outside shooting touch being what it is.
Then next week they face North Sanpete at home with the final game of the regular season against powerful Lehi in Utah County on Feb. 13.
Two more wins would assure them a playoff spot.
Dinos in second place in Region 8
